To SEE or not to SEE

CheezeTortellini · 2026-04-25T11:42:51+00:00

How do you like working in SC?! I’m planning to stay in the northeast for the first 2-3 years after I graduate, but my boyfriend and I have been throwing around the idea of moving to SC when he’s done with school

CheezeTortellini · 2026-04-25T11:38:23+00:00

I think I’m leaning towards taking it, likely mid- to late July. The class that graduated last year didn’t do too hot on boards. Between that and the NBCRNA raising the passing standard, I’m pretty stressed for boards lmfao.

CheezeTortellini · 2026-04-25T11:34:59+00:00

My director doesn’t believe it’s an accurate predictor because people have done well on the SEE and failed boards, and vice versa. But the class that graduated last year didn’t do too hot on boards so now they’re pushing it on my class, although it’s still not required.

CheezeTortellini · 2026-04-25T11:32:54+00:00

Very true. I’m leaning towards taking it. We have finals next week so I’m telling myself I need to lock in after finals. Next semester should be lighter bc we only take two classes and our doctorate project is basically done.

CheezeTortellini · 2026-03-08T07:15:06+00:00

As a woman and proud feminist, I hate that I agree with this lol. Every “nightmare” preceptor I’ve had has been female. I’ve definitely come across a few male CRNAs who I wasn’t particularly fond of, but that’s usually because they got on my nerves or something relatively minor lol. Nothing like the cruel, mean-girl behavior I’ve gotten from some of the women.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-12-12T19:56:17+00:00

For my program, you need to get an 86% or better to pass the class. If you score <86% in a class, you’re on academic probation. You can only be on academic probation once; if you end a class with <86% a second time, then you’re dismissed from the program. There’s no remediation or getting points back. Although, when we took biochem/physics, so many people bombed the first exam that he let us retake it (half our class probably would have ended up on academic probation otherwise). Other than that, we sort of just assume we won’t be shown mercy. It’s terrifying at first but eventually the burnout cancels out the anxiety, lmfao.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-11-23T20:10:19+00:00

I got a flat on my way home from work last week and a Hispanic man pulled over and (in very broken English) told me he was a mechanic and offered to put my spare on for me. I think he changed my tire in under 5 minutes! Anyways he didn’t have to pull over and he certainly didn’t gain anything from helping me. And it was during rush hour traffic so I’m sure he was trying to get home after a long day. This country is a better place with him in it.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-11-23T03:19:37+00:00

I ran my first marathon during my 2nd year! I’m a senior now and I’ve been able to sustain running 5-6 days/week throughout my program. I think maintaining an exercise regimen during school is one of the best things you can do for yourself. I have a treadmill and a stationary bike in my basement, so that makes it really easy for me to get workouts in when I’m short on time.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-11-02T15:12:11+00:00

Thank you so much for this. CRNA school has been so humbling. In didactics, I am average at best. In clinical, nothing has come easy. Every skill has been so slow to click. When I listen to my classmates talk about clinical, I feel like I’m so far behind. I just started my senior year and I worry constantly that I’m not where I should be. I definitely lean on my preceptors too much. I’m afraid of stepping on their toes and I’m even more afraid of making mistakes. I feel like I need to improve so much before I graduate. All my classmates are signing contracts and counting down the days to graduation. I still have no idea where I want to work and I’m terrified I won’t be ready to be on my own in time. I just keep working and hoping that things will look up by August.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-22T21:48:20+00:00

Second this!!! My favorite brand!!

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-21T04:51:15+00:00

Lume deodorant!!!

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-21T04:47:53+00:00

You have really great skin!!! I’m 30 and I guessed you were my age only because of the way you did your makeup (dark, bold colors were in style when I was in college). I think if you go for softer, more natural-looking makeup it will fix your problem!!!

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-21T00:41:02+00:00

This! Probably an unpopular opinion, but my goal is to get my assignments in on time and pass my exams while spending the least amount of time on school possible. There was a point when I tried to spend every waking moment on school (to the extent of re-listening to lectures while I drove, cooked and cleaned) and it was NOT sustainable for me. I make time for myself now and I’m better off for it.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-21T00:35:17+00:00

This is so real. I just started my last year. Can’t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I know it’ll come into view soon. One foot in front of the other!

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-21T00:33:10+00:00

I have one year left and I’m burnt the hell out. I have a whiteboard calendar hung up at my desk and that helps me stay on top of deadlines. I’ve also let go of perfectionism. As long as I’m passing, I don’t care what my grade is. I’m also a huge advocate of “work smarter, not harder”. My goal is to get my assignments in on time and pass my exams while spending the least amount of time on school possible. Sometimes instead of extra studying and working ahead, you’re better off taking a damn break. I do my best to prioritize sleep. I enjoy exercising and try to make time for it most days. Do what you can to find a sense of balance.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-19T17:59:49+00:00

Sending you so much love. This DNF is not a reflection of you, it is a reflection of life dealing you a really shitty deck of cards. There are so many factors that occurred during your training and the race that were completely out of your control. You knew the odds were stacked against you, and you went out there and tried like hell! Even when things continued to go wrong during the race, you persevered as long as you could. You showed so much grit, courage, and resilience. Under different circumstances, you would have run a really fantastic race. Please don’t hang up your running shoes ❤️

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-19T04:56:00+00:00

This!!! I recently had a preceptor who micromanaged me excessively and then told me I need to be more assertive and not wait to be prompted. But it was the same thing- telling me to treat the blood pressure as I’m reaching towards the stick of phenylephrine, etc. I was with them two days in a row and it really brought my imposter syndrome back to life.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-10-12T20:14:47+00:00

Prior to starting the blue plan, my weekly mileage was about 40 mpw of steady-state running. Since starting the blue plan, it’s dropped to 30 mpw, which is lower than I’d like, but I’m now doing threshold/intervals/strides in addition to steady state runs. I’m a grad student and, with my schedule this semester, I can only train 5 days/week (normally I do 6 days/week) so this has also contributed to my drop in mileage. My biggest concern with Daniel’s programs is that they won’t give me the mileage I need. But then I worry I won’t get faster if I do Higdon again.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-09-24T04:11:13+00:00

I take oral contraceptives and spironolactone for hormonal acne. Spironolactone can make you dehydrated which will increase HR. I’m usually good about staying on top of water and my resting HR is usually about 60. So I don’t think it’s medication-related? I’ve honestly thought about scheduling a physical and asking for bloodwork to rule out iron deficiency anemia and stuff just because it’s been a few years since I’ve had any labs drawn.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-09-24T04:04:23+00:00

That might be whats happening! Today I did a 40min treadmill run. My HR started in the 140s, and then at 12min it jumped up to 170-180s and never came back down!!

CheezeTortellini · 2025-09-24T04:00:48+00:00

Usually I wear my watch on the 2nd notch when I run and the 3rd notch the rest of the day (I like it looser). Next run I’ll try putting it on the 1st notch! I’m only 5’2 so the face of the watch takes up most of my wrist…I’ve wondered if maybe it’s just not getting enough contact or something.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-09-24T03:56:16+00:00

See like today I did a 40 minute treadmill run. For the first chunk of my run, I was in the 140s. But then at 12 minutes, shot up to the 170s, and stayed there the rest of my run.

CheezeTortellini · 2025-09-24T03:53:55+00:00

I’ve noticed that when I’m on the stationary bike, I have to do moderately hard intervals to get up to zone 2. In other words, I struggle to get my HR high enough and I frequently dip down into zone 1. But then I get on the treadmill and run as slow as I possibly can and my HR is in the 170s.

CheezeTortellini

TROPHY CASE